CHANGING FACE OF THE INDIAN PET FURNITURE INDUSTRY

CHANGING FACE OF THE INDIAN PET FURNITURE INDUSTRY

- Priyanka Tanwar*

Tasteful furniture for pets is not a recent phenomenon. The Metropolitan Museum of Art displays an 18th century dog kennel created by Fresh artist Claude I Sené for queen Marie Antoinette’s royal canine companion Coco. The opulent piece has been crafted from gilded beech and pine, and draped in the finest silk and velvet.

Classy pet furniture is back in vogue after global home decor giant Ikea unveiled a pawdorable line of furniture designed for pets in 2017. The collection, which became an instant rage, was designed with inputs from trained veterinarians. Other International purveyors such as Pottery Barn, Crate and Barrel, and Casper mattresses followed suit with lines for feline and canine companions.

Pet furniture refers to any piece of specialised furniture that is created keeping in mind the particular needs and requirements of different types of companion animals like dogs and cats. According to a recent study by market research firm Statista, the Global Pet Furniture industry was valued at US $ 2.21Billion in 2019 and is estimated to reach US $ 3 Billion by 2025.

The Pet furniture market has been segmented into Feeding Tables, Beds, Sofas, Houses, Trees and Condos on the basis of product type. It is divided into 3 major categories namely – canine, feline and other pets, based on application.

Traditionally, furniture designs for companion animals have given preference to function over form. However, the pet furniture space is rapidly evolving and pet parents are no longer content with a plain mattress or cushion to serve their pet’s bedding and lounging needs. Young owners are now looking for sophisticated pieces that complement their pad’s overall colour scheme and craftsmanship of other furniture articles while serving functional requirements. International pet furniture manufacturers are investing huge amounts in R & D to come up with designs that appeal to millennials.